I’ve been following the HBO TV show “Game of Thrones” recently.  I really enjoyed the books, and I’m sort of enjoying the series.  The budget of the show is surprisingly well spent, and I’m pretty happy with what they’ve done with the show.  We’re getting to the exciting stuff at the end of this season – I think there are only a few episodes left.

Once the show ends in a couple of weeks, I’ll be a man without a TV show.  I’m looking forward to using the time to catch up on some reading.  I’ve got six novels stacked up in the waiting queue that I need to get to.

Tonight after work Kuniko is going to swing by Costco to pick up some beer and other stuff for a party this Saturday.  We’ll be hosting the Fukumis for a Mexican dinner, and that means that we’re gonna need beer.  We burned right through that case of Kirkland craft beer so we’ve no choice but an emergency mid-week beer run.  It’s nice that the Costco is so close now. She’ll also pick up something for dinner and bring it home.  My job is to get home and wait for everything to show up.  Sounds good to me!

One of the nice things about working at KHI is that there are fewer rules for me to follow.  I’m kind of left to do my own thing, and one of those things is choosing what to wear and when to wear it.  In my previous company there were very strict rules about business wear.  We had to wear a suit and tie, for example.  Since joining Kawasaki I haven’t really changed anything, except for last week when I decided it was time for “Cool Biz” wear.

The Cool Biz program was designed to make things more comfortable in the summer months, and even though summer is a ways off it has been a little warm.  So last week I switched to shirt and slacks, no jacket, no tie.  It has been very comfortable, and I even have an extra minute or two every morning.  I’ll stay in this routine through summer, until September or so.  No ties for three months?  I don’t mind.

I’m halfway through my media blackout period – tonight I finished watching Survivor, and maybe tomorrow or the next day I’ll squeeze in Amazing Race.  Close to the end!  I was pretty satisfied with how Survivor finished up, actually.  It wasn’t a very good season, but I think the right person won.

Today when I got home the kids from the neighborhood followed me home, desperately trying to strike up a conversation in English.  One little kid rides up on his bike all the time and shouts, “I’m fine thank you, and you?”.  I’ve got to figure out a proper response for that one.   The neighborhood moms and dads think it is cute, though.

More later once I finished up Amazing Race!

Once again I’m on a media blackout, since a couple of my favorite shows on TV wrapped up, and I want to wait and watch them later on this week.  I should be back on the internet in a couple of days.

Yesterday after work I stopped in at the local eye doctor to restock my contact lenses.  I wear two-week disposable contact lenses, but unfortunately I tend to wear them much longer than two weeks.  This time the doctor said that it had been nine months since my last visit – even though they gave me a three month supply last time.  Oops.  I apologized (like I always do) and promised to do better (like I always do).  I think they are used to my ways, though.  They didn’t look too upset.

This weekend we didn’t do much except make a run to Costco Sunday morning.  The shopping list was pretty small, actually.  One of the more interesting things we got is a case of Kirkland craft beer.  I think it is the same stuff you’d be able to get in Costco stores in America, but here in Japan craft beer is pretty rare, and pretty expensive.  Beer is really expensive in Japan, whatever the type.  Here’s a quick breakdown in price…

First, just plain regular beer.  Asahi Super Dry, for example.  One standard 350ml can is about 166 yen ($2 US).

Next, premium beer. Suntory Premium Malts, for example.  One standard 350ml can is about 208 yen ($2.60).

Low end craft beer.  Yona Yona Ale is a good example, although there are only two or three  in this category.  One standard 350ml can is about 250 yen ($3.13).

Japanese craft beer.  There are more and more examples of these.  Minoh Brewery is one of my favorites.  One 350ml bottle is about 400 yen ($5.00)

Next, imported cheap beer.  Budweiser, for example.  One standard 350ml can is about 260 yen ($3.25).

Finally, imported craft beer.  I can get a 350ml bottle of Kona Brewing company Pale Ale for about 350 yen ($4.38).

But yesterday we paid 153 yen ($1.91) a bottle for the Kirkland craft beer.

That is a really big difference.  Also interesting to note is that Costco sells Japanese beers as well, but the price is the same as buying it anywhere else.

So the good news is that I’ll be able to drink affordable craft beer again in Japan.  I tried the four different types that came in the case this weekend, Pale Ale, Amber Ale, IPA and Belgian White, and I was pleasantly surprised – they were better than I expected.  It was hard to believe that I was drinking the cheapest beer in Japan.

Friday is finally here, and we’re pretty excited about it.  Nothing special planned for the weekend – maybe some work in the yard, and possibly a trip to Costco, but that is pretty much it.

Last night I went out to yakitori with Bill and Gary, two of the customer inspectors at Kawasaki.  By chance they were coming back from another factory and so we met in Okubo.  They had arrived much earlier than I, so they had already set up shop at Ichiban yakitori.  I like Ichiban, actually – the master of the place is very friendly, and it has an old feel to it.  Old in a traditional kind of way.

After drinking with them for a while they were interested in seeing the other yakitori that I visit in town, Komedorishokudo.  I lead them over to see it, and by chance we caught the master’s wife and child along with one of the part time workers with his wife and child just leaving.  It had been a very long time since I’d seen them – maybe a year or two.

Gary and Bill seemed to enjoy the place.  They drank and drank and argued politics and drank.  I know better than to bring politics into a conversation over drinks, but these guys just love to tease each other over this and that, and it was interesting to watch their dynamic.  They were both genuinely happy to hear that I had joined Kawasaki and left the staffing company.  They had been prodding me to do it for the last couple of years.

So all in all it was a good night, but I’m pretty tired out this morning, and the weekend is looking really good.

Today after work I’m going to meet up with one of the inspectors from the KHI factory.  These days he’s working a couple days a week at another factory, so it worked out that we’ll be able to meet in Okubo instead of the usual meetup in Hyogo.  It’ll be fun to host him on my turf – I’m thinking about taking him over to the local yakitori for a bite to eat.

Yesterday’s storm lasted pretty much all day.  I ended up using an umbrella on the way to work and the way back.  Luckily the rest of the week seems like it’ll be much better weather.  I’ve already got my eye on the weekend… it is pretty tough coming back from such a long vacation.

My first two class periods yesterday I spent teaching new employees at the factory.  Actually, I was just kind of a guest teacher – normally they learn English from an HR guy, and he usually uses Japanese to teach.  It was interesting to see the style of learning there.  They learn in a system that is pretty much the same as a high school.   The teacher speaks, the students write, and then the class ends.  Because this is the style of class that they are used to, it was a little tough to get them to speak out.  I’ll only teach this group around once a month, so it might take a while to get them to loosen up and start speaking English.

I’m getting ready to head off to work this morning.  Outside there is a smattering of rain and near-constant thunder.  It looks like it’ll be a strange weather day.

Today Kuniko has a special day off.  It is the foundation anniversary of her school, and like all schools all over Japan, the entire staff has a holiday from work.  Unfortunately this year it falls on a Wednesday.  Still, good on her, and she can stay in today while I trudge off to work in the storm.

Last night on the way home from work there was apparently an accident on the tracks in Okubo (that usually means a suicide) and so all trains heading that direction were stopped at the station just before mine.  That meant that a huge amount of people were disembarking where I was, and trying to find a way to go west like me.  I settled on a taxi to get me to Okubo, and then ended up eating at the Thai restaurant since Kuniko was going to be attending a seminar.  The Thai food was good, too.  Very spicy – I had a good layer of sweat on me as I walked home.

OK, I’m off to work.  Hopefully this weather will blow off by the time I head home…

Last night was a quiet evening.  The highlight was definitely dinner, though.  Kuniko made a combination of two dishes – Hawaiian loco moco and Japanese om-rice.   Fried rice wrapped in an omelet next to a small hamburger patty covered with a sweet sauce that tied it all together.  Yum!

Mr. Fukumi dropped by in the evening to deliver some souvenirs from New Zealand.  They spent half a week or so there and it sounded like he really enjoyed the trip.  We’re going to have to get together sometime soon and hear about their experience.  I think they are pretty tired after the whirlwind trip at the moment.

The weather seems to be nice today, and it should be a pretty easy week at work.  One day this week I will teach some factory workers for the first time – that should be very interesting.  They don’t have much experience with English, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we’ll do in class.  ABCs?

The second movie in the marathon was “There Will Be Blood”, starring Daniel Day Lewis.  What an interesting movie.  The portrayal of the main character was so intense, so rich and so deep, I really felt like I would hate to meet the actor himself .  The character radiated hate and greed, and the movie explored his behavior through all kinds of changes through his life.   I was really interested in seeing how the movie would end, and I was not disappointed (especially considering the director).  Great movie, although a little long.  Excellent recommendation.

The next movie I watched was 50/50, about a very young man facing cancer  (and possibly death).  I wasn’t quite sure if it was a comedy or a drama, but there was plenty of both in the movie.  The character of quirky best friend was played by Seth Rogen, and he did what he seems to do best – play a stoner guy telling dirty jokes.  The movie addressed some heavy issues in a light way, but I think it was fair depiction.  No unnecessary drama, but the ending was a little bit of a surprise for me.  Again: good movie, good characters, tough topic.  And Anna Kendrick was pretty hot.

The last two movies were movies that I had actually seen before.  Only after starting 25th hour did I realize that I had seen it.  Since I had forgotten the plot I re-watched it, and slowly it came back to me.   As the story unfolded, I was struck how the main character (and his friends, for that matter) were just wishing for things to go their way.  They wanted things, they took things, and others were left to deal with the repercussions of those actions.  Spike Lee did a great job showing New York, and by the end of the movie I was sure that it was a place I’d never want to live.  So much insecurity, aggressiveness and selfishness – no, thanks.  That is the vibe that I got from the movie, and I think it was by design.  The ending is quite powerful, however and I like the way it leaves the viewer.  Also the location of the opening scene of the movie reminded me of the opening to Grand Theft Auto 4.  Which came first, I wonder?

Finally, Chasing Amy.  This movie made a bad impression on me the first time I saw it.  I guess I saw it as kind of a spiritual sequel to Clerks, and thus was disappointed that there wasn’t enough Jay and Silent Bob for me.  I later got what I was hoping for with Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, however.  Chasing Amy was better this time around.  I had trouble believing that Ben Affleck wasn’t Ben Affleck in the movie, but I guess that really didn’t matter much to the story.  The ending was still preposterous (at least to me) and continued to be a deal-breaker for me.  I guess I have a hard time relating with any of the characters, but I can understand the arc of the story and this time I could better understand the point of the filmmaker.  It just seemed a little heavy-handed, but sometimes heavy-handed works.

That’s it for the movie marathon.  Thanks to Drew for recommending the flicks, and I’ll be sure to go back to him if I have another big block of free time.  Maybe in July I’ll have another week to kill…

It is finally Sunday, and we’re getting ready to go back to our working ways.  Although I had nine days off, Kuniko just had three in a row, so it is a little easier for her to back into the swing of work.  It’ll take me a little bit longer, I think.

Golden Week was really good to us.  I got a lot done here at home.  I installed a drip irrigation system for the front of the house, which went a lot smoother than I expected.  It was fun to rig it up, and I set up an automatic timer than controls things.  The only thing I couldn’t find were some small plastic valves to turn on and off certain branches.  Luckily I found some on the internet yesterday, so I ordered one and hopefully it will fit the bill.  If the weather is good next weekend I’ll head back out there to finish the job.

Saturday Kuniko and I went out to the beach, and spent a couple hours sitting on the sand, collecting shells, and walking along the coast.  This is the year of the beach for us – we’ll spend a lot more time on the beach before the year is up.  It felt great getting warm sand between my toes.  And it is hard to believe that it is only about a thirty minute walk away from our house.

I also finished my movie marathon.  I’ll post some reviews of the remaining four movies coming right up…

Golden Week is moving along – and pretty rapidly at that.  Yesterday both Kuniko and I had days off, so it was nice to spend time doing things together.  We did some hiking on Sunday and Monday, so I’m going to take some time to rest up the muscles before another trip on Wednesday.  Kuniko has to work half a day today and a full day tomorrow, but after that we should have some more time together.

The new shopping center has been fun to visit.  This is a big holiday week, and that means tons of people that normally wouldn’t be there.  Yesterday we had to give up on the grocery store because people were lined up 40 minutes to buy eggs for half price.  No thanks, guys, we’ll go to the next supermarket down the way.  The other downside of the new setup is that each section has its own cash register.  That means if you want to buy some beer, meat, veggies, fish and milk, you would have to go through five different cash register lines.  I’m not quite sure if this is a temporary system or a permanent one.  Here’s hoping it’s temporary…

This morning I watched the first movie of my marathon, “Waking Life”.  It is now about ten years old, but visually it holds up well.  I went in without knowing anything about the movie, and I was impressed with the visual style.  It was kind of like watching a movie about art, but also the movie was chock full of philosophy and monologues about what it means to be awake, dreaming, and alive.  I’ve already sort of formed my own sorts of opinions on these matters, so there were few moments of enlightenment.  It was refreshing to see some topics discussed that don’t normally make it into a movie.  At some points in the movie, the monologues had such urgency and energy that you had to wonder if there was somewhere better to channel it, but people like to talk and reflect, and this movie gives you a front row seat.   Overall I’d say that it if it was filmed in a traditional style it might border on unwatchable for me, but in the end it was the use of color and animation that made it interesting.

Next up, “There Will Be Blood”…

There are a couple of exciting things to look forward to today.  Today is the grand opening of the newly remodeled supermarket in town.  We usually went to the old market (Vivre) after work just about every day to buy stuff for dinner, so we are both very interested to see what the new place looks like.  It has a different name (Oishis?), but that it all we know about it.  I’ll check it out when I get home tonight.

In addition, Kuniko is attending a party tonight to get to know the new teachers in her school.  She’ll be out having fun this evening, so I’ve got to figure out what I should do on the Friday before nine days off.  I’m sure I’ll have some ideas during the day today.

And finally today at work I get a chance to teach the new employees one more time.  The first lesson was OK, but the next one is a little more intense.  We’ll try to cover formal introductions, exchanging business cards, and even writing business e-mails in English.  It is a lot to pack in while trying to avoid boring them to tears.  Let’s hope it works out…

Since I don’t have any big plans this Golden Week, I had the big idea to select five movies for five days off, and take them in each day.  The tough part here was choosing which movies to watch.  Re-watch old favorites?  See some new movies that have come out recently?  It’s a tough call.

Luckily I got in touch with Drew Underwood, my cousin once removed in Maui.  He’s a movie buff and quickly had a list of movies for me to check out.  Here’s the list:

1. Waking Life

2. There Will Be Blood

3. Chasing Amy

4. 50/50

5. 25th Hour

So, the plan is check one out each day, and I’ll try to blog a quickie review of each movie here once I’m done.  Something else to look forward to during the holiday week…

I’m starting to put together some plans for the upcoming nine days off in a row – but still nothing dramatic or exciting.  One is to go hiking with Yoshi near the end of the week.  We’re going out to Takedao to hike the abandoned railroad.  Yoshi said he hasn’t done the hike since he was five years old, so it’ll be kind of a flashback to his childhood.  Kuniko has never done the hike, so it’ll be an all-new experience.  It has been about three years since I’ve done it, and it is a great hike.  We’ll follow the river through the countryside along an old railway, through long, dark tunnels until we get to the end.  It’s about a half-day hike – and there is a lot of bang-for-the-buck.

Other than the hike, there is not a lot on my schedule.  I’m sure as we get closer to the weekend I’ll have some more events, though.

Tonight the plan is to work on some of the spices and foods that we brought back from India.  I’ve got some ideas on what to cook, but I’m not sure exactly how it will turn out.  It’ll be my first time making dosas, but the other dishes I’ve had some experience with.  Can’t wait!